MTN Business Training 2026
The MTN ICT and Business Skills Training Programme 2026 has opened applications for its eighth phase, offering eligible young Nigerian women the opportunity to receive practical business and digital training and compete for equipment grants of up to ₦1 million.
The Phase 8 programme is targeted at women between the ages of 18 and 35 who own and manage microbusinesses that have been operating for no more than two years. However, eligibility is limited to businesses located in six Nigerian states: Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano and Gombe.
MTN Foundation says the five-week programme will combine online learning, instructor-led sessions, entrepreneurship masterclasses and a practical capstone project. Participants will also receive data support during the training.
The programme has a ₦100 million equipment grant fund, from which the top 100 participants can receive grants of up to ₦1 million each. Applications for Phase 8 close on October 11, 2026.
What Is the MTN ICT and Business Skills Training Programme?
The MTN ICT and Business Skills Training Programme is an entrepreneurship initiative created to help young Nigerian microbusiness owners develop practical digital and business skills.
Since the programme began in 2018, MTN Foundation says more than 15,000 young microbusiness owners have completed its training across 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Previous editions have been delivered with support from organisations including Google, Oracle, KPMG, IBM, Digital Bridge Institute, Cisco, Meta and Microsoft. MTN Foundation says previous phases have also produced more than 1,100 equipment-grant recipients, with grants totalling ₦430 million.
The 2026 Phase 8 edition has a more specific target. Rather than accepting applicants from all parts of Nigeria, this phase is focused on young female microbusiness owners in six states.
MTN Business Training 2026 Benefits
The programme offers participants practical training designed to help them improve how they operate and develop their businesses.
The Phase 8 training will last for five weeks and include:
- Self-paced online learning
- Instructor-led training sessions
- Masterclasses with experienced entrepreneurs
- A capstone project challenge
- Data support for participants
Beyond the training itself, the programme provides an opportunity for high-performing participants to compete for equipment grants.
The top 100 participants can receive up to ₦1 million each from the programme’s ₦100 million equipment grant fund.
This means the equipment grant is not automatically awarded to everyone who completes the training. Applicants should understand the distinction between being accepted for the training and being selected among the top 100 grant recipients.
Who Can Apply for MTN Business Training 2026?
The Phase 8 programme has specific eligibility requirements.
An applicant must be:
- A Nigerian woman
- Between 18 and 35 years old
- The owner and manager of a microbusiness
- Operating a business that has existed for no more than two years
- Running the business in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano or Gombe State
MTN Foundation lists these requirements on its official programme page.
Applicants should check the age and business requirements carefully before submitting an application.
The location requirement is also important. Having Nigerian citizenship alone does not make an applicant eligible for this particular phase. The applicant’s business must be located in one of the six participating states.
Six States Eligible for Phase 8
The MTN ICT and Business Skills Training Programme Phase 8 is available to eligible business owners in:
- Rivers State
- Abia State
- Ogun State
- Kwara State
- Kano State
- Gombe State
Applicants whose businesses are located outside these states should not assume that they qualify for Phase 8 simply because previous editions operated in their states.
MTN Foundation has previously expanded the programme across a much larger number of states, but the current Phase 8 call has its own geographical requirements.
How the Five-Week Training Works
The 2026 training is structured around a blended learning approach.
Participants will complete self-paced online modules while also taking part in instructor-led sessions. This allows the programme to combine independent learning with direct instruction.
The training will also include masterclasses featuring experienced entrepreneurs. These sessions are intended to expose participants to practical business knowledge that can be applied to their own enterprises.
Another component is the capstone project challenge. Participants will have an opportunity to put some of the knowledge gained during the programme into practical use.
MTN Foundation will also provide data support to participants to help them take part in the online aspects of the training.
MTN Equipment Grant 2026
The equipment grant is one of the major attractions of the 2026 programme.
MTN Foundation has allocated ₦100 million for equipment grants in Phase 8. The top 100 participants can receive grants of up to ₦1 million each.
The grant is specifically described as an equipment grant. Applicants should therefore understand that completing the training does not automatically result in a ₦1 million cash award.
The grant is connected to participant performance and selection among the top 100 participants.
For business owners, equipment support can potentially help improve production, service delivery or other operational needs, depending on the nature of the enterprise and the applicable grant arrangements.
Is the MTN Grant Available to Every Participant?
No.
The training programme and the equipment grant are separate stages of the opportunity.
Eligible applicants may participate in the five-week training, but MTN Foundation states that only the top 100 participants will receive equipment grants of up to ₦1 million.
Therefore, applicants should not treat the programme as a guaranteed ₦1 million grant for everyone who applies.
The primary opportunity begins with the business training, while the equipment grant is an additional award for selected top-performing participants.
MTN Business Training 2026 Application Deadline
Applications for the eighth phase of the MTN ICT and Business Skills Training Programme will close on October 11, 2026.
Applicants who meet the requirements should complete their applications before the closing date rather than waiting until the final day.
The official MTN Foundation announcement identifies October 11, 2026 as the application deadline for Phase 8.
How to Prepare Before Applying
Applicants should first confirm that they meet every eligibility requirement.
The most important points to check are age, gender, business ownership, business age and location.
The business must have been operational for no more than two years, while the applicant must be between 18 and 35 years old. The business must also be located in one of the six participating states.
Applicants should provide accurate information about their businesses and carefully review their application before submission.
Since the programme involves online training, applicants should also be prepared to participate actively in the five-week learning process.
MTN Business Training Programme’s Previous Impact
The current programme builds on several years of entrepreneurship training by MTN Foundation.
According to MTN Foundation, 15,362 young microbusiness owners had completed the programme across 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory before Phase 8.
The foundation also reports that 1,100 previous participants have received equipment grants totalling ₦430 million.
The 2026 programme therefore continues an initiative that has already operated through multiple phases.
MTN Foundation’s wider ICT and Business Skills Training initiative is aimed at helping young entrepreneurs develop technology-enabled skills that can be applied to their businesses.
Why Applicants Should Pay Attention to the Eligibility Rules
One of the easiest mistakes an applicant can make is focusing on the grant amount without checking the requirements.
The ₦1 million figure applies to the selected top 100 participants. Before reaching that stage, an applicant must first qualify for Phase 8 and participate in the training.
The business location requirement is equally important. The current call covers only Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano and Gombe.
Applicants should also remember that the programme is specifically for Nigerian women aged 18 to 35 who own and manage microbusinesses.
Conclusion
The MTN Business Training 2026, officially known as the MTN ICT and Business Skills Training Programme Phase 8, provides eligible young Nigerian women with an opportunity to develop practical digital and entrepreneurship skills.
The five-week programme will include online learning, instructor-led sessions, entrepreneurship masterclasses, a capstone project and data support. Beyond the training, MTN Foundation has set aside a ₦100 million equipment grant fund from which the top 100 participants can receive grants of up to ₦1 million each.
For the 2026 Phase 8 application, eligibility is restricted to Nigerian women aged 18 to 35 who own and manage microbusinesses that have operated for no more than two years in Rivers, Abia, Ogun, Kwara, Kano or Gombe State.
Applications close on October 11, 2026, so eligible applicants should review the requirements and submit their applications before the deadline.